Ruminal Digestion and Microbial Utilization of Diets Varying in Type of Carbohydrate and Protein

¹ Division of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26606

Three ruminally and duodenally cannulated, lactating Holstein cows were used in a 3 x 3 Latin square experiment to study the effects of differing levels of nonstructural carbohydrate and degradable intake protein on ruminal digestibility and microbial protein production. Three diets were formulated to contain 1) 38 and 13.2%, 2) 31 and 11.8%, and 3) 24 and 9% nonstructural carbohydrate and degradable intake protein as percentages of the DM, respectively. Dry matter intakes were similar for all diets (21.9, 21.1, and 18.3 kg/d for diets 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Likewise, microbial efficiency, as estimated from purine analysis, was unaffected by diet and averaged 24 g of microbial N/kg of OM digested for all treatments. Ruminal digestion of OM averaged 66.6, 65.1, and 55.7% for diets 1, 2, and 3, respectively, resulting in lower microbial N flow per day for diet 3 (317, 333, and 202 g, respectively). Digestion of nonstructural carbohydrate and CP followed similar trends as did OM digestion, whereas NDF digestion remained similar across all diets. These results indicate that nonstructural carbohydrate greater than 24% and ruminally degradable protein greater than 9% of DM will enhance microbial protein flow from the rumen.

Key Words: nonstructural carbohydrate • degradable intake protein • rumen metabolism

Submitted on July 13, 1990
Accepted on October 4, 1990

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